QUESTION: (In Arabic.) Mr. Secretary, thanks very a lot for giving us this unique interview. We admire your time.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s excellent to be with you.
QUESTION: I wished to begin with Iran. The administration mentioned that this isn’t the appropriate time to return to the JCPOA. Your President described it as useless. But, you don’t want the navy choice. How will you cease Iran from buying a nuclear weapon?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, Iran had a chance to get again into the JCPOA on the finish of this previous summer time. Sadly, they rejected what was on the desk and had been agreed to by everyone. Their both wouldn’t transfer ahead with it. Now our focus is on the numerous issues which have occurred since, together with the horrific repression of the Iranian individuals on the streets of Iran as younger individuals, girls particularly, have been standing up for his or her fundamental rights, and essential communities throughout Iranian society are doing the identical factor and are being repressed violently by the regime.
On the similar time, we’re additionally seeing Iran help Russia in its warfare of aggression towards Ukraine, offering it with drones and probably different weapons methods. In order that’s the place the main target is and that’s the priority of many nations around the globe.
On the similar time, sure, we proceed to consider that the simplest method to cope with the worldwide group’s issues about Iran’s nuclear program is thru diplomacy. Diplomacy is rarely off the desk. However President Biden has additionally made clear that we’re decided that Iran not purchase a nuclear weapon, and each choice stays on the desk to make sure that that doesn’t occur. However our most popular path could be diplomacy.
QUESTION: Together with navy choice?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Every thing is on the desk.
QUESTION: You talked in regards to the regime. The regime has been executing demonstrators after a sham trial. How will you help individuals who have been calling for assist truly from the West and notably from america?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve been, with many different nations, standing up and talking out for individuals who are merely attempting to have their voices heard and their rights upheld. We’ve gone after those that have been concerned in repressing them, and thru sanctions, by means of designating them in varied methods. We’ve sought to assist the Iranian individuals be capable of proceed to speak with one another in addition to with the remainder of the world by means of communications know-how. And naturally, we proceed to search for methods to disrupt the malicious actions that they’re engaged in.
However I believe there’s great solidarity around the globe with the Iranian individuals, who’re merely attempting to have their fundamental rights revered by the regime.
QUESTION: So is that this navy maneuvering or train with the Israelis and different individuals within the Gulf meant to discourage Iran actions within the area?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: All of our navy efforts are designed with the concept of deterrence in thoughts – that’s, to attempt to make it possible for a would-be aggressor thinks twice, thinks thrice, after which doesn’t do it. That’s what deterrence is all about. And it’s vital to have the ability to exhibit that and to just be sure you’re prepared if aggression comes. And if deterrence doesn’t work, that you simply’re additionally ready to successfully defend your self.
QUESTION: The US at all times help individuals who wish to change the regime that oppresses them. Why not the case with Iran?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: We help the Iranian individuals, however these choices are theirs. They’re not ours. They’re not anybody else’s. One of many issues that we don’t wish to do is to in some way make this about us. That’s precisely what the Iranian regime desires. They wish to say to their very own individuals, “Oh, no, that is in some way the work, the design of some exterior energy,” america or another person. It’s not. It displays a profound misunderstanding of their very own individuals in the event that they consider that in some way we’re answerable for this, and it displays a profound weak spot. They’re afraid of their very own individuals.
QUESTION: I wish to transfer to Saudi Arabia. How would you describe the connection with Saudi Arabia after the OPEC manufacturing choice, et cetera, and your risk truly to assessment the connection with Riyadh?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve had a relationship – an vital relationship with Saudi Arabia for many years, for generations, throughout administrations in our personal nation and throughout leaders in Saudi Arabia. It’s one which evolves. And from our perspective, the vital factor to do is to make it possible for that relationship totally displays our personal pursuits and values, and that’s one thing that’s not static. It’s always evolving.
We had the issues that we expressed in regards to the OPEC+ choice again in October. I believe since then we’ve seen Saudi Arabia do some very constructive issues – for instance, offering very important help, humanitarian help to Ukraine within the face of this Russian aggression; voting for the – in impact – for the UN Constitution on the United Nations towards the Russian aggression; the work that we’re doing collectively to attempt to finish the warfare in Yemen, one of many worst humanitarian conditions on this planet. That’s very important, nevertheless it’s one thing that can always evolve and we’ll always be taking a look at to make it possible for it successfully represents and advances our personal pursuits.
QUESTION: So many points within the area. Iraq. We’ve a brand new prime minister, Mr. Sudani. How will you assist him if you wish to undermine Iran affect in Iraq? How can the U.S. —
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I’ve spoken with Prime Minister Sudani and we’re very a lot engaged with the Iraqi Authorities. I believe there are two issues which can be vital. First, after all, is an everlasting partnership to proceed to cope with Daesh as essential to make it possible for it can’t interact in actions that kill harmless individuals. And we stay very engaged in supporting the Iraqi Safety Forces and ensuring that they’ve the means to tackle what stays of Daesh and to make it possible for it could’t rebound.
However we even have a wider partnership with Iraq, and we now have a Strategic Framework Settlement with Iraq that we’re implementing – engaged on, for instance, on attempting to assist Iraq additional develop its economic system. That’s one thing we take very severely. We wish to see this complete framework that we’ve established truly take – have actual that means, and hopefully assist to enhance the lives of the Iraqi individuals.
I additionally suppose it’s essential that Iraq proceed to be totally reintegrated into the bigger Arab group, and that we see nations enjoying essential roles in main that effort, together with Egypt.
QUESTION: Positive. And on Libya, do you see two governments in Tripoli and Benghazi? Would you help one unified authorities?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: What we help at this level is the necessity to get to an election in order that there could be a clear and legit authorities that displays the Libyan individuals. And that’s clearly what the Libyan individuals need. So the particular consultant of the secretary-general of the United Nations has a plan to attempt to transfer to an election on the earliest attainable second. That’s essentially the most important subsequent step. That’s the way you get, lastly, unity within the nation and a authorities that’s clearly respectable and conscious of what the individuals need.
QUESTION: And at last, I believe my time is up, however I wish to ask you in regards to the – Türkiye and Palestine. On Türkiye, do you help their incursion in northern Syria? And the way do you see this rapprochement between the Turks and others in the direction of Assad regime?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So two issues. In the case of northern Syria, we’ve urged everybody to attempt to calm the waters. And what we don’t want, I don’t suppose what anybody wants is a navy incursion in northern Syria. That dangers, after all, doing great harm to civilians and harmless individuals. It truly probably would disrupt the efforts to proceed to maintain Daesh at bay and take the main target off of that, the place it must be. And so it’s not, frankly, in anybody’s pursuits.
Türkiye has respectable safety pursuits. There’s no disputing that. However these pursuits could be handled successfully with out, I believe, a navy intervention.
QUESTION: And the Assad regime?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: And in relation to the Assad regime, look, we’re very clear. We don’t help normalization. The problem is that this: The United Nations has proposed a course of, a step-by-step course of resulting in the implementation of the related UN Safety Council resolutions, a political manner ahead. We help that. Sadly, the Assad regime doesn’t and has refused to have interaction in that course of. Except and till it does, it’s very arduous to see how one can transfer ahead.
QUESTION: Lastly, you’re going to Ramallah and Jerusalem. How will you defuse the strain? Do you worry a 3rd intifada? How will you activate a significant that means of the two-state resolution?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, I’ll have extra to say about that within the subsequent couple of days after we go there. I believe we’ve seen horrific terrorist assaults within the final couple of days that we condemn and deplore. President Biden has spoken to this. We additionally see civilian lack of life that may be very deeply disturbing. And crucial factor within the close to time period is to attempt to get some calm. However I’ll have extra to say to that within the subsequent couple of days. I would like the possibility to talk to the Israeli Authorities, to the Palestinian Authority management, to listen to from individuals as effectively who’re being affected by this of their each day lives.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thanks a lot on your time. We admire it.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. Superb to be with you. Thanks.
QUESTION: Thanks.